Five fails to secure Freeview HD bandwidth

The UK broadcasting regulator has rejected Channel Five's request for capacity on Freeview's Multiplex B. Ofcom was not convinced that Five was fully committed to HD broadcasting. Under the rules, the bandwidth will now be allocated to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Ofcom has to assign Freeview HD capacity to non-commercial broadcasters if the bandwidth is not being used by commercial broadcasters. Five was unable to clearly inform Ofcom of when it will begin broadcasting HD or how it plans to maintain a daytime HD schedule.

Ofcom is believed to have been planning to give the bandwidth to Channel 4 or S4C instead, but both also failed to commit to a service that would meet Ofcom's requirements.

Five will now have to wait until 2012 when Ofcom will again allow commercial broadcasters for pitch for HD capacity.

Originally posted by scum101: somebody PLEASE show me where the bbc pay per view service is "non commercial"

If u live in the UK there is no BBC pay per view.

Yes there is! It's called the TV License.

We are forced to pay the darn thing and all we get in return is multiple BBC channels of utter crap. If you don't pay it? you cannot legally own a TV or you go to jail if you are caught without a license.

BBC has lots of top execs on 100k salaries a year excluding bonuses and then you get people like Johnathon Ross earning 6 million to talk?

We are forced to pay the darn thing and all we get in return is multiple BBC channels of utter crap. If you don't pay it? you cannot legally own a TV or you go to jail if you are caught without a license.

BBC has lots of top execs on 100k salaries a year excluding bonuses and then you get people like Johnathon Ross earning 6 million to talk?

Grrrrrrrrr!!!!
Trin - Making Digital Waves

Ahh I see wot u mean now. Sorry i thought maybe people who watched abroard might have to pay someone for the service, cable or sat something like that.

I pay for a tv licence I don't mind too much, BBC beats the crap out of ITV, C4 and Five IMO, but yer each to their own. I think it is unfair you are forced to pay it though as you may not even want to watch BBC shows as u state.

What was it on the not the 9 o'clock news show "I love the BBC and would gladly pay £500 pounds for the licence"